Bumper-bar



E. W. WEAVER.

BUMPER BAR.

AWLFCATION FILED FEB. i6. 192|.

l y 386, l 5 l Fmened June 'E'. 5322i ing high` eiciency in ELVEBTON W.

WEAVER, 0F CLEVELAW HEGHTS, O-l.

Specification of Letters Patent.

L .L r natented June '3, 1921i,

application :nee February 1e, 19er. serial No. Maase.

'Bumper-Bars,.of which the, following is a full, clear,and exactdescription.'

This invention'is an automobile bumperembodying .novel features ofconstructionv which result in. a light-weight bumperhavbreaking,.theblows and shocks to which such -devices are liable to be subjected inuse, and

high eiciency in minimizingthe chances of injury to the automobile towhich it is :\ttached. The invention consists in the construction andcombination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described anddefinitely pointed out in the appended claims'.

In thel drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bumper showingthe normal relation of the parts thereof just before they I have beenput into their final relative positions; Fig. 2 is a plan view of thebumper in condition for use; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view in theplane of line 3--3 on Fig. 2.

l The bumper includes a lresilient bumper bar 10 which may be andpreferably is made of laminated wood. The purpose of using the laminatedWood bumper bar is'to produce a structure of light weight which willhave suhcient'strength for the purpose. This bumper bar may, however, bemade of other suitable material, as'for example, steel. Tt isnormally-substantially straight, except for the fact that near its endsit is slightly curved rearward. v

Two bracket bars 12 are employed to connectA this bumper bar with theside' members 20 of an automobile frame. Each of these bracket bars hasits front end curved outward, that is, away from the automobile framemember to which its rear end is attached, and toward the adjacent end ofthe bumper bar, the outer bar being shaped to conform to the rear faceof the bumper bar and being attached thereto by a bolt 1-1. The rear endof each bracket bar is substantially parallel to "the outer face of theassociated side frame member to which it is secured by two bolts 13 and14, which pass through the bracket bar withstanding, without part ofeach. bracket' and side frame member. Each bracket bar may, however, bespaced away from the adj acentfframe member by washers 13a and 14a whichembrace the bolt between the bumper bar and side frame member, when thatis necessary to prevent the bracket bars or arch brace from contactingwith projections such as rivet heads on the side frame members.

1G represents a resilient arch-shaped reinforcing brace. This is formedby bending a Flatsteel bar. into substantial U-shape. The ends of thisarch brace are secured to the two bracket bars and `to the automobile4frame members by means of the same bolts 13 before mentioned,-saidbolts being in front of bolts 111. TThe rear ends of the brace liebetween the bracket bars and the washers The length of this arch braceis such that when the parts are connected together to the extent abovedescribed, anc before the bolts 13 and 14 are tightened up the frontmiddle part of the brace will project a substantial distance beyond the`bumper bar and may rest upon it as a convenience preparatory toarranging the parte in operative final relation to each other and to theautomobile. Under such conditions the parts described are somewhatloosely connected to each other and to the automobile by means of thebolts 13 and 14, and the arch brace is pivoted to the two bracket bars.

The front middle part of the arch brace must now be pushed rearward andthe middle of the bumper bar must be pulled for ward and the middle partof the arch brace moved down behind the bumper bar and into engagementwith the rear face thereof.

Both the bumper bar and the arch brace are and put under stress or tenithereb y distorted sion w ereby both are rendered more efficient inresisting the stresses and blows to vwhich they may be subjected andbetter able to withstand them without breaking than would be `the caseif these parts were not so stressed or tcnsioned.

When the parts have been brought tothe relative vpositions described thebolts 13 and 14 are tightened up.

lnforder to insurev that the bumper bar and arch 'brace shall remain inthe described operative relation Without having to weaken either byholes whichwould be required by bolts, one or the other of said parts,preferably the bumper bar, is provided near the point of contact betweenthem with horizontal parallel flanges 17a, between which the other ofsaid parts will lie as in a groove. In the construction shown a thinsteel plate 17 is secured by screws to the rear face of.

the bumper bar, which if the bumper bar is made of wood does notmaterially weaken it. Near the middle of this steel plate the ,upper andlower edges thereof are bent rearward 1n parallel relation to form theflanges 17a which provide a groove into which the bent front end of thearch brace will project, whereby said arch brace. will be held in thedescribed operative relation with the bumper bar.

The distorted and tensioned condition of the bumper bar and arch braceadd very materially to the strength and shock absorbing qualities of thestructure. It likewise greatly reduces the chance that the side framemembers of the automobile trame. will be bent inward if the bumper baris subjected to a blow of suilicient force to bend it and the brace barrearward to any great eX- tent; that is to say, to an extent such ascarries the bumper bar substantially behind the position in which itnormally would stand if it were not bowed forward. If by a blow thebumper bar is bent backward beyond this position the reaction of thearch brace is such that the ends thereof apply considerable force to theside frame members of the automobile tending to bend them outward. Att-he same time the bracket bars apply to the automobile side framemembers compensating pressure ,tending to bend them inward. These twoforces being in opposite directions minimize the chance that the sideframe members of the automobile .shall be bent.

It will of course be understood that such terms as front, rear, and thelike'as herein used are relative terms only; and that although as usedthey are correct when referring to a bumper bar attached to the frontend of an automobile, they would have to be used inversely if used in'connection with the described structure wheirapplied to the rear end ofan automobile.

Having described my invention, I claim l. An automobile bumpercomprising, in combination, a resilient bumper bar, two bracket barswhich are connected thereto and are the means through which the bumperbar may be connected to the side trame members of an automobile, and aresilient arch brace disposed between the two bracket bars and connectedtherewith .near its ends,-the middle part ot said arch brace being inengagement with the rear face of the bumper bar,-and said arch bracebeing of such lengththat both the bumper bar and arch brace are understress or tension as the result of their engagement.

2. A n automobile bumper comprising a resilient bumper bar, two'bracketbars whose front ends are bent outward and areA tastened to the bumperbar and whose rear ends are substantially parallel and are adapted to beconnected with the side frame members of an automobile, a-resilient archbrace whose middle part lies behind and is in contact with the bumperbar and whose ends are connected to the respective brace bars at vpointssuch that the bumper bar and the arch brace are distorted and put understress or sion.

3. An automobile bumper comprising, in combination, a resilient bumperbar, two bracket bars which are connected the-reto and are the meansthrough which the bumper bar may be connected to the side-trame meznbers of an automobile, and a resilient arch brace di-sposed between thetwo bracket bars and connected therewith near its ends,-the middle partof said arch brace being in engagement with the rear face of the bumperbar, and said arch brace being of such length that both the bumper barand arch brace are under stress or tension as the result of theirengagement, the bumper bar and 4the arch brace 'at their point 'ofengagement being provided with flanges attached to one of said partslying above and below the other part.

4. The combination with the two side frame members of an automobileframe, of a resilient bumper bar, two bracket bars which at their rearends are secured to the automobile frame members respectively at theirfront ends and are curved outward and are attached to the bumper bar,two bolts associated with each bracket, an automobile side frame memberpassing through both toV connect them together, a resilient arch braceeach rear end of which lies between the associated side frame member andbracketb'ar, and'is connected to both by same beingthe forward one ofthe bolts which connect `the bracket bars to the side frame member, themiddle part of the arch brace being held in coiltact with the rear faceof the bumper bar, and said arch brace being ol such length that boththe bumper bar and brace are substantially distorted and are held understress or tension as the result of such en` gagement.

5. The combination with the two side frame members of an automobileframe, ot a resilient bum )er bar made oi? wood, two bracket bars which.at their rear ends are secured to the automobile tramo membersrespectively and at their front ends are curved outward and are attachedto the bumper bar, a resilient arch brace each rear end otl which liesbetween thc associated side frame member and bracket bar and isconnected to both, a thin metal plate secured to the rear face of thebumper bar and liaving rearwardly extended flanges on its upper tenandlower edgesnear the middle of said plate, the middle part of the archbrace being in engagement with said plate. he-

tween the flanges thereof, and the arch brace being' of :auch lengththat both it and the buni'per bai' are distorted and put under sti-essor tension as the result ot such engagenient, and the arch brace is heldin the stated position by said i'ianges.

(i. A ii automobile bumper body comprising7 iii combination, a resilientwood bumper bai', two inetal bracket bars which are eene iierted theretoand are the nieans through which the bumper bai' may be connected to theside traine inen'ibers of an automobile, a spring inet-al arch bracedisposed between the two bracket bars and connected therewith near itsends, and havingits middle portion iii engagement with the rear face ofthe-bumper bar, and ineans to preserve 2@ said engagement.

7 An automobile bumper body e ing, in combination, a resilient wood hijobar, two nietal bracket bars which a neeted thereto and are the ine-ariewhich the bumper bar may be coni etw the side traine nienibers et an auta springv metal arch brace disposed h the two bracket bars andeoniieetet, 4 with near its ends, a nietal plate fixed to the et; .rearface et the biiniper bar,-the arched brace bein T ot such length thatits middle sa i portion will engage said iiietai plate, and iiieans topreserve said engagementu ln teetiinonv whereof l hereunto ai'iisignature.

